Din in Odisha Assembly over Mahanadi dispute

The dispute between Odisha and Chhattisgarh over sharing of Mahanadi water dominated the Odisha Assembly proceedings when the second phase of the budget session began here on Wednesday.

The House witnessed noisy scenes as the legislators of the ruling Biju Janata Dal stood up on their seats as soon as the Question Hour began and raised slogans against the BJP-led government at the Centre, accusing it of conspiring to deprive Odisha of its share of the Mahanadi water.

The BJD legislators demanded that concrete measures be initiated by the Centre for functioning of the tribunal set up to resolve the Mahanadi dispute between Odisha and Chhattisgarh.

When Speaker Pradip Kumar Amat adjourned the proceedings, the BJD members staged a dharna near the statue of Mahatma Gandhi inside the Assembly premises.

The ruling party lawmakers accused the Centre of being partial towards Chhattisgarh in the Mahanadi issue. They claimed that the river had dried up in Odisha because of a conspiracy.

Leader of the Opposition and senior Congress leader Narasingha Mishra blamed the BJD for creating a ruckus in the House leading to adjournment.

The Mahanadi issue is likely to remain in focus as the BJD has announced to organise a conference of people’s representatives from 15 districts on April 15 to decide the future course of action to get adequate water of the river for Odisha.